Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Local artist Fola Akinsola has produced her iconic cards in a new smaller A6 size, and we now have a selection here at the shop.

Fola uses recycled materials to create her unique artwork, a philosophy that fits perfectly with our own at Past & Precious, and she's taken select pieces of her art and used them to create these super cool cards.

Tuesday, 29 April 2014

I love a good 'fashion' film, and in her recent article for StyleCaster, Becca Endicott posted details of '50 Movies Every Fashion Lover Should Watch'. Here are my favourites. Which are yours?

I've watched 'The Devil Wears Prada', the film adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's novel of the same name, countless times. The fictionalised account of Weisberger's own experience working as the assistant to the Editor-In-Chief of a major fashion magazine is widely acknowledged to be about US Vogue.

Factory Girl (2006)

Edie Sedgewick, the most notorious of Andy Warhol'smuses, is immortalized by Sienna Miller in 'Factory Girl'. I love Edie's favoured 'mod' look of black dancer's tights paired with miniskirts and tunics.

Pretty in Pink (1986)

'Pretty in Pink' is a romantic comedy about a teenage girl from the wrong side of the tracks (Molly Ringwald). The film derives its title from the leading lady's iconic off-the-shoulder pink dress. The soundtrack is pretty good too!

A Single Man (2009)

'A Single Man' is Tom Ford's stylish directorial debut. It details a day in the life of George Falconer (Colin Firth), a gay university professor who is mourning the recent loss of his partner. A very sad but brilliant film.

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

Becca's list doesn't include 'The Thomas Crown Affair' which is surprising. Rene Russo's mostly Céline wardrobe in this remake of the 1968 original is amazing!

Monday, 28 April 2014

The pre-fall 2014 collections were Zara Wong's inspiration for her recent post for Vogue Australia online. She shows us how to stay ahead of the fashion pack, while making the most of our existing wardrobes, by following some simple new takes on layering. Here are a few of my favourite looks...

Phillip Lim's lingerie-esque dress (shown above) is given a more androgynous feel by wearing it with cigarette trousers. A new silhouette that's easy to try for size!

Max Azria

If you're in fear of baring your midriff, you can still tap into the cropped top trend by wearing a classic white shirt underneath.

Elizabeth & James

For a touch of grunge, tie a plaid shirt around your waist. It'll add guaranteed interest to any skirt.

No. 21

A sliver of lace sneaking out from a khaki knit is just enough femininity to make this military-influenced look very, very cool.

Sunday, 27 April 2014

In her recent article for StyleCaster, Perrie Samotin suggests ten questions we should all ask ourselves before we splurge on something expensive. But I think many of the questions she poses could really apply to shopping full stop!

Here are my top five. What do you think?

Question 1: Do I already own something like it?First things first: Take a cold, hard look at your closet and see if you already own something that resembles your potential purchase. If the answer is yes, you might want to skip spending out on it, unless you plan to get rid of the one you already own. Why? Because it’s a known fact that the more you own, the less you wear.

Question 2: If the label was cut out, would it still be to my taste?As fashion lovers, it’s a given that our inner Sybarite will occasionally emerge. But if you’re buying simply for a label and the item really isn't 'you', well, then it's time to step swiftly away from that rail.

Question 3: Is it an impulse buy?Like social media, today’s world is also jam-packed with online promotions, special offers and discounts. While these can be fantastic if you’re legitimately in the market for something, they can be pretty dangerous for the casual shopper. Remember, impulse buys can end up causing a serious case of buyer's remorse.

Question 4: Realistically, how much wear will I get out of it?There’s nothing wrong with treating ourselves to special-occasion pieces now and again. But with truly expensive buys it’s worth calculating the cost per wear — especially if the item might not fit into your lifestyle. Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will just sit in your closet?

Question 5: Is it a one-season wonder?While every spurge doesn't need to be on something "classic" that’ll last forever and ever (where’s the fun in that?) splashing out on something that’s so obviously the "it" item from a collection is rarely a good idea. Why? Because there’s an excellent chance that, after the season is over and the luster starts to fade, you might start to feel that your splurge was partially due to the immediacy of having something covetable, rather than having something you absolutely adore.

Saturday, 26 April 2014

Whether you prefer something simple or like to make a statement, we've the perfect pair of Prada wedges for you!These oh so pretty pink and white wedges are from Prada's iconic 'Fairy' collection.And the polished white patent pair are still boxed, having never been worn!

Friday, 25 April 2014

Designers were on denim duty this season, and the catwalks were awash with our favourite fabric.But as Jessica Bumpus of vogue.co.uk says, it's no longer just about the jeans. Here are some different takes on denim to transform your spring wardrobe...

Altuzarra

The patchwork shirt has shed its utility image. This slinky little denim number was spotted on the Altuzarra catwalk.

Balmain

A simple, streamlined piece makes head to toe denim dressing a cinch.

MaxMara

A traditional two piece with a modern denim twist adds an edge to a working wardrobe.

Thursday, 24 April 2014

On 24th April last year, 1,133 people were killed and over 2,500 were injured when the Rana Plaza factory complex collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Despite this tragic event, social and environmental catastrophes in fashion supply chains continue. And in an effort to raise awareness, Fashion Revolution Day was launched.

The first annual campaign centres around the theme 'Who Made Your Clothes?' and encourages us to be more curious about how are clothes are made and who made them.

To show your support, wear your clothes inside out today and send the brand or brands a picture via Twitter or Instagram asking who made them. And don't forget to share your posts with Fashion Revolution using the tags @Fash_Rev and #InsideOut.

To learn more about the Fashion Revolution Day campaign to raise awareness of the true cost of fashion click here

Wednesday, 23 April 2014

There is, according to Hannah Marriott of The Guardian, a theory in fashion that the most significant trends of each decade become apparent at the midway point. And this decade's dominant hue? Grey.

As she writes in a recent online article for the newspaper, it's "No longer shorthand for drab and depressing, grey has become a fashion colour, signifying good taste". How things have changed! Do you remember Marks & Spencer's ill-fated foray with grey?

I've succumbed to the smokey shade myself, and have even dedicated a Pinterest board to the colour here.

If you haven't yet added a shade of grey to your wardrobe, then here's just a selection of the gorgeous grey pieces we currently have in store...

Tuesday, 22 April 2014

The logo fades in and out of fashion. Its latest incarnation was on Alexander Wang's spring/summer catwalk, when the designer cleverly used laser cutting techniques to carve out his label's name on the clothing.But there are certain brands which never dabble in such a blatant display. They rely on more discrete methods to get their message across, such as a certain cut or style, instantly recognisable to only those in the know. Here are some of these so called 'stealth' brands, as featured in a recent online article by Paris Chérie...

Bottega Veneta

Bottega Veneta's beautiful leather bags are recognisable only by their sleek and simple basket weave design.

The Row

Former teen stars Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen's label The Row is a lesson in ultra luxury. Their simple silhouettes are formed from only the best fabrics.

Monday, 21 April 2014

Now, I deliberated whether to share this latest beauty find with you, given the back story. But for the sake of fellow 'sufferers' I feel it's my duty... I've been on the hunt for the perfect lipgloss for what seems like forever. By perfect, I mean one that doesn't leave me with a lovely white line around my mouth after just an hour or two of wear!This strange affliction is actually quite common (a quick search on Google one day revealed that I definitely wasn't alone) and is very frustrating, as well as being highly embarrassing. I've bought countless glosses from both high end and budget brands over the years, but not one of them has passed the 'no white line' test, until now. Step forward Urban Decay's Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss.This £14.00 tube of wonder is indeed the perfect lipgloss! And I've already started to stock pile it, just in case it's ever discontinued...

Saturday, 19 April 2014

Just in! This ultra cool cropped knit straight from the Isabel Marant catwalk...

Isabel Marant

As a fan of the layered look this piece was firmly on my fashion radar, and I bought one as soon as they arrived in Changing Room.I love its versatility. I wear it over tunics and dresses, and it looks great paired with a simple white shirt...

Image via Pinterest

Size: 8 / Price: £200.00 (Cost New £459.00)

To register your interest in this item simply click here and we'll keep you updated regarding its availability.

Thursday, 17 April 2014

This super slogan sweatshirt was one of the 'hero' pieces snapped at Australia's recent fashion week. It's from Isabel Marant's latest collection for her Étoile line. And look what's just arrived in store, with its new tag still attached!

Etoile Isabel Marant

Size: 8-10 / Price: £100.00 (Cost New £175.00)

To register your interest in this item simply click here and we'll keep you updated regarding its availability.

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

Visit Past & Precious on Good Friday, and as a special thank you to all our loyal customers we will be offering a 10% discount on all purchases made on the day*Simply mention this blog to claim your discount.We will be open from 10.00am to 4.00pm and look forward to seeing you!*The 10% discount will be applied to all purchases made on Friday, 18th April 2014, either in store or by phone, with the exception of items already reduced, Total Wardrobe Care products and Say It Artwork cards. The reduction in price will be bourne entirely by Past & Precious and will not affect the amounts that have been agreed will be paid to the owners of items sold.

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

Growing up, many of us are made aware of certain 'rules' which should be followed when getting dressed if we want to avoid those fashion faux pas. But in this day and age, how many of them are simply outdated?

In stylecaster.com's '50 Fashion Rules to Break Right Now' Perrie Samotin looks at these former sartorial sins, and I thought I'd share my top ten personal fashion peeves with you... 1. Denim on denim is a no no.2. Every woman must own a trench. Or ballet flats. Or a black shift dress. 3. Navy and black don't go together.4. Sneakers are only for the gym.5. Horizontal stripes make you look larger.6. Mixed prints are too busy.7. Shorts are only for summer. 8. Red and pink clash.9. Sequins can't be worn during the day.10.No short skirts after 40. As Perrie says "Wear what makes you feel awesome!".

Monday, 14 April 2014

There was much talk in the media recently about the sartorial disaster that surrounded Kate Middleton when she attended a friend's wedding. She came face to face with another guest wearing the same outfit. A situation that every woman dreads. While it was widely acknowledged that the Duchess of Cambridge won that fashion war, in her online column for the Daily Telegraph Lisa Armstrong examined the 'why' a bit further. And as you can see from the photograph, it was due in no small part to a bit of nip and tuck.

I'm a firm believer in getting clothes altered, and as you know we offer an alteration service here at the shop. It really is a stroke of good luck if garments fit us perfectly straight off the peg, so why settle for mediocre when you can have amazing!

Sunday, 13 April 2014

"The transformative power of a carefully chosen pair of shoes, and the revelations it holds about the wearer, become apparent against the steady sartorial backdrop of a black suit." The LineThis exercise in clever dressing is courtesy of a great feature on The Line's website. The shots clearly show how a sleek black tuxedo can be taken from casual to formal and from relaxed to refined with a just a change of footwear.Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best...

Saturday, 12 April 2014

It's going to be a warm weekend, so say those in the know, so why not pop into Past & Precious for a pair of new season sunnies?Here are four fabulous designer frames we currently have in store... Clockwise from top left...Alexander Wang x Linda Farrow £125.00Ray Ban £75.00Prada £95.00Ray Ban £75.00

To register your interest in an item or items simply click here and we'll keep you updated regarding their availability.

Thursday, 10 April 2014

This beautiful blue military inspired McQueen dress has just arrived in store!The sharpness of the shoulders, which are decorated with epaulettes, is offset by the deep cowl neckline and nipped in waist. Feminine tailoring at its very British best...

Wednesday, 9 April 2014

Today, the Barbican in London unveils the first major exhibition dedicated to the work of French couturier Jean Paul Gaultier.

"The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk" will run until 25th August, 2014, as part of an international tour.It features over 165 couture and ready to wear pieces from the designer's extensive career, including the conical corset worn by Madonna on her 1990 Blond Ambition tour.Here's a short introduction to the show delivered by the man himself...

Tuesday, 8 April 2014

I've been meaning to share this article with you for a while...Vogue interviewed five women from different walks of life about their new season wardrobes, and asked them to keep track of how much they actually wore, piece by piece.This is a great exercise in discovering what really works. And sometimes it's the items you'd least expect that actually work the hardest. It will certainly help you to hone your personal style. So this spring why not try give it a try? You might be surprised at the results...

Monday, 7 April 2014

In the current issue of Porter Magazine, Kay Barron talks to Chloé's creative director Clare Waight Keller about the famous French house, and the super cool spirit behind the brand. Here's an except from the Birmingham-born designer's interview, where she shares her thoughts on how to master modern femininity... Attitidue is Key"The Chloé girl personifies a really feminine attitude, but with modernity and a real sense of cool. There are so many facets to her...But I think above everything, it is about the attitude." Don't Mistake Feminine for Girlie"There is a misconception that femininity means frivolous and girlie. It isn't about decorating a woman; it's about amplifying an aspect of her beauty."Be Spontaneous"The Parisian look isn't solely for the French. I think it is just a modern aesthetic to feel quite effortless. The look doesn't feel forced, doesn't feel prepared".Don't Worry About your Body "You are always going to feel great in a piece that feels made for you, regardless of your shape."Step out of your Comfort Zone"It's important to experience, see and do different things. I think it's good to build a 'library' in your head of different looks and references - it stretches your imagination."Think Beyond a Dress"People think of feminine and they think of dresses, but there can be femininity in any piece you wear."Concealing is Sexier than Revealing"...you sense the essence of the body; the clothes moving with it and around it add mystery...There is a sensuality to covering up that is natural and effortless."For more information about Porter magazine click here